Landsat image of the Yukon River near Stevens Village, Alaska collected on July 8, 2021.
Satellite-based Remote Sensing of River Discharge
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By New England Water Science Center
September 14, 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey and NASA are collaborating on a study to develop methods to estimate river flows from satellite observations.
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In many parts of the world and within the U.S., especially Alaska, difficult climate, steep terrain, and lack of transportation infrastructure present safety and cost barriers to traditional ground-based river monitoring. These areas traditionally have been unmonitored or intermittently monitored, creating large knowledge gaps. Measuring stage and river inundation and using those observations to estimate discharge by satellite will help to surmount these barriers and can vastly expand the number of rivers being monitored.
Satellite-based remote sensing of river discharge is an active area of research. USGS is recognized as a global leader in streamgaging and river discharge measurement technology, development of standardized methods and procedures, and collection of high-quality, defensible hydrologic data. The USGS has played a critical role in the past to develop new technology, including digital record keeping and acoustic Doppler equipment and is currently developing methods incorporating satellite-remote sensing technology to monitor stream stage and discharge. The objective of current collaborative efforts with the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) Applied Sciences Program is to develop methods and tools to enable hydrologic technicians to establish and operate satellite-based gages on rivers in Alaska to expand the USGS observational network, in part to meet the needs of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS).
Resources
Yukon River Near Stevens Village, Alaska
Landsat image of the Yukon River near Stevens Village, Alaska collected on July 8, 2021.
The U.S. Geological Survey and NASA are collaborating on a study to develop methods to estimate river flows from satellite observations.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
In many parts of the world and within the U.S., especially Alaska, difficult climate, steep terrain, and lack of transportation infrastructure present safety and cost barriers to traditional ground-based river monitoring. These areas traditionally have been unmonitored or intermittently monitored, creating large knowledge gaps. Measuring stage and river inundation and using those observations to estimate discharge by satellite will help to surmount these barriers and can vastly expand the number of rivers being monitored.
Satellite-based remote sensing of river discharge is an active area of research. USGS is recognized as a global leader in streamgaging and river discharge measurement technology, development of standardized methods and procedures, and collection of high-quality, defensible hydrologic data. The USGS has played a critical role in the past to develop new technology, including digital record keeping and acoustic Doppler equipment and is currently developing methods incorporating satellite-remote sensing technology to monitor stream stage and discharge. The objective of current collaborative efforts with the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) Applied Sciences Program is to develop methods and tools to enable hydrologic technicians to establish and operate satellite-based gages on rivers in Alaska to expand the USGS observational network, in part to meet the needs of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS).
Resources
Yukon River Near Stevens Village, Alaska
Landsat image of the Yukon River near Stevens Village, Alaska collected on July 8, 2021.
Landsat image of the Yukon River near Stevens Village, Alaska collected on July 8, 2021.